Girija Shettar reports on the delays to planned transits of the Northern Sea Route through the Russian Arctic:
Northern Sea Route (PA photo via IHS Maritime 360)
No transits through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) have been completed so far this year, which could bring the route’s long-term viability into question, experts have told IHS Maritime.
NSR Administration has given permission for 577 transits, but vessels navigating the NSR water area total only 99, with no completed voyages. NSR transits usually start in July and run until November.
Last year, 71 vessels transited the NSR, starting at the end of June, with the last transit at the end of November.
[…]
“We are two months late compared to 2012 and many planned cargo and passenger transits are currently being cancelled,” he said. “There’s too much ice and it seems that the Arctic ice extent will reach a decennial record high this year. I expect this will generate scepticism on the future economic viability of the route and the related investments already announced by the Arctic littoral countries.”
